Centrifugal liquid-separator.



No. 139,927. i PATENTBD SEPT. 29', 1903. y G. RENNERPELT.

GENTRIPUGAL LIQUID SBPARATOR.

.APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. 190B.

l0 MODEL.

UNITED STATE- s Patented September 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAFFENNERFELT, oF BRooKLYN, NEwfYoEK, As'sIGNoR To KooHKUM, JR., a oHLssoN, oF NEW, YoR-K,JN.IY.,A FIRM.

CENTRIFUGAL I IQU'iD-SEPARATOR.

sPEoIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters PatentNo. 739,927, dated september 29, 1903'. Application filed September 13, 1902. lSerial No. 123,230I (No model.) I

.To L LZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAF RENNEBFELT, a subject of the King of Sweden and' Norway,

residing at New York, borough of Brooklyn,v

county of Kings, and State of New York, have made a new and useful Invention in Centrifugal Liquid-Separators, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates'to improvemen-ts in centrifugal liquidseparators where separation of liquids of diierent specific gravities is effected in a rapidly-1otating bowl or vessel in which the heavier liquid is thrown to the periphery of the bowl and the lighter one is drawn toward the axial center thereof. As such sepa tors are ordinarily constructed it is necessary to balance the bowl in a very careful manner, so that its center of gravity will be located exactly in the axis of rotation, which is determined by the bearings in which rotates the shaft that supports the bowl. This balancing of the bowl is usually eifected by soldering some tin to the lighter side thereof until by repeated testing it is found to run sufficiently true to 'avoid vibration.' On .cream-separators such balancing is generally performed three times: first, on the empty bowl or vessel; second, on the bowl with the supported dividingdisks, and, third, with the complete bowl and supported dividing-disks after the bowl is lled with water or milk. This balancing is a very expensive operation., and it may have toY be repeated, since' by careless handlingaccurate balancing is apt tobe destroyed. 4Suche. method of balancing requires a high degree of workmanship,

v so that the bowl 'must necessarily be returned to the factory, thus causing interruption in the running of the dairy and inconvenience to the dairy owner. If the bowl is not well balanced, it is impossible to br'ingit up Vto the necessary high speed without causing v i bratio'ns, which will interfere with or prevent a properseparation of the liquids and which mayeven'L be detrimental to the strength of the machine. l Y

The principal object of myinvention is to construct a liquid separator in which the separating bowl or vessel is practically selfbalancing at all speeds of rotation, thereby obviating the necessity of a careful mechanical balancing, as is usually done.

For a full andrclear understanding of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to construct and use the same, ref- Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view takenr on the line Fig. 1, and as seen looking thereat from the top toward the bottom of the drawing-in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through Fig. l on lhe line Z Z and as seen looking thereat from the top toward the bot tom of the drawingin the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a plan View illustrating the preferred manner of attaching the yielding means of support for the bowl to the rotary driving-shaft. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line y y, Fig. 1, and as seen looking thereat from the top toward the bottom of the drawing-in the direction of the arrows. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the application of theA essential principle utilized in my invention when in practical operation.

I have discovered that if a body, as a bowl Vor vessel, utilized in the separation of liquids I of different specific gravities be yieldingly supported by a rotary shaft in such manner that the bowl will be rotated with' the shaftthe' center of gravity of the same audits con-V tained liquid and also of the yielding support will for high speeds of rotation assume a position located in the axial line of the rotary shaft,and in the application of this generic principle lies the essence of my in-vention, for that-it makes it possible to avoid artificial balancing of the bowl and attached" parts of the apparatus, Vwhereby a separator is produced which does not require extreme care in use and need not be returnedv to the builder or to an expert for effecting the proper balancing of the parts. f

Referring first to Figs. 6, 7, and 8, I have ICO 55 erence is had to the accompanying drawings, v

4illustrated therein diagrammatically the es-v of the rotatable shaft, this for the purpose of showing how it is possible to rotate'the bowl or mass 21 and the yielding supporting-spring 23 in such manner that the center of gravity of the united masses shall be llocated in the axial line of the rotatable shaft 5. Fig. 7 illustrates the parts in rotation at moderate speeds, in which it will be noted the centers of gravity of the bowl or mass 21 are directly in alinement with the axis of the shaft 5and the yielding spring support 23 assumes al curved position, while in Fig. S the several masses are shown as being rotated at much higher speeds, the spring assuming a greater curved position.

In diagrams 7 and 8 the common center of gravity of the mass ofthe bowl and the spring is at all times located in alinement with the axis of the rotatable shaft 5. It will be noted also that the supporting-spring 23 is of spiral form, this being an important featurein/that it prevents damaging shocks to the stepbearing when the bowl is being filled or put in place.

Referringnow to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, for a description'of the complete machine, 1 represents a frame of cast metal, having a base- Hange 2 adapted to secure it toa table,a bench, or the door, said frame being so cast, as clearly illustrated in Figsfl and 2, as to constitute the support for a tran'of gear-wheels 7 8 9 and to surround the same in such manner as to act as a retaining vessel for a lubricatingoil, 10 being a detachable cover for the train of gear-wheels. 3 is a standard, and 4 a liquid-containing cup cast also integral with the frame 1. '5 is a rotary shaft provided with a worm 11, meshingwith the gear-wheel 7 and journaled in aBabbitt-nietal or bronze sleeve 6, held iu place within the standard 3 by one or more set-screws 12. The lower end of the shaft 5 is provided with a step-bearing, made adjustable by means of a screw-plug 14, secured in the frame, as clearly shown, and the upper end of said shaft is provided with a `head 24, having a screw-thread-cut upon its exterior surface of the same pitch as the spirais of the strong-steel coil supporting-spring 23. The middle portion of the shaft is provided with a shoulder, which is held-in position in the bottom of the cup 4 against upward thrust by a two-part disk 1S 18 and screws 20 20, said disks constituting a thrustbearing and being notched on their adjoining faces at 19 19 for the purpose of admitting of the circulation of the lubricatingoil and the return thereof to the chamber which supports the driving gear-wheels 7 8 9,2 the latter being connected to an operating crank or pulley. (Not-shown.) 15, 16, and 17 'are oil-holes for admitting of the passage of the lubricant from the oil-chamber upward to the step-bearing 13 and .lower end of the worm 11 of the shaft 5. 31 is an oil-hole for admitting of the return of the oil to the oilchamber, and 32 is a guide-spout for conveying the same directly to the shaft of the gearl wheel 8. 21 is the separating bowl or vessel, which is provided with an opening in the center of its bottom adapted to lit snugly about a vertically-disposed tube 33, the lower end of which in turn rests upon the outer conecl face of a support 34, which in turn is secured to the lower lend of the strong spiral spring .23, the upper end of said spring being secured, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, difrectly to the enlarged head 24 of the upper .end ofthe shaft 5 by turning the free end of the spring inward and locking it in a hole or Vslot in said head. 25 is a filling-tube for the bowl 21, having a base part screw-threaded into the upper end of the tube 33, and inlet- `openings 26 26 26 26 are provided for admit- :ting the combined liquids to be separated-to lthe interior of the j bowl or vessel. 22 is a cover for the bowlor vessel, a yielding washer lbeing provided for` making a liquid-tight joint between the same and the vessel. 29fis a nut adaptedto lock all of the parts securely together. 27 is the usual slot in the upper :end of the cover for admitting of thepassage Iof the lighter liquid outward when the machine is in operation, 28being an adjustable zscrew for varying the dimensions of said slot. ,30 is a similar outlet for the liquid of greater `,specific gravity, said outlet being secured directly to the inner surface of the lid or cover E22 and as isusual in such machines.

The operation of the machine is obvious to those skilled in the art, it being apparent that ,ou rotating the train of gear-wheels, so that the main driving gear-Wheel 7 rotates from left to right, as indicated by the curved arrow, an upward thrust is given to the worm `11 and shaft 5, the bowl or vessel 21 beingv ,rotated in., a manner Well understood, the ,flexible nature of the supporting-spring 23 beingsuch that thecombined centers of gravity of the bowl, its contents,'and of the sup- ;porting-spring will remain for high speeds of l,rotation in the axis of the rotatable shaft 5, the process of the separation of the liquids of dierentspeciic gravities being-identically the same as in similar machines and well understood.

Y Itl will be apparent that by reason of the free circulation of the lubricant through the openings 15, 16, and 17 the 'lower step-bearing 13 is at all times perfectly lubricated, while the relations of the worm 11 and its surrounding journal-sleeve 6 is'such that the lubricant isV continuously advanced to the IOL IIO

upper thrust-bearing and ultimately passes upward through the openings I9 and finally again downward through the opening 3l and guide-spout 32 to the shaft of the driving gear-wheel 7, the entire4 arrangement being such that the lubricant is in continuous circulation. It will also be apparent that the lower step-bearing 13 maybe readily removed by withdrawing the screw-plug 14 and r leasing the set-nut and its adjacent washer,which makes an oil-tight joint between the screwplug and the bottom of the chamber in which said plug is secured.

I do not limit my invention to the especial details of construction illustrated in the accom panying draw-ings. I beleveit is broadly new with me to devise a centrifugal separator in which the separating bowl or vessel and its attached parts are wholly supported by flexible means attached to the end of a rotatable shaft and in such manner that the common centers of gravity of all the combined parts will always remain in the axis of the rotatable shaft for high speeds of rotation, and in the application of this generic principle lies the most essential feature of myAinvention.

I am aware that prior to my invention a non-liquid centrifugal separator had been devised in which the bowl is yieldingly supported by a shaft at a point between the journalbearings thereof, the arrangement being such that the bowl is a fixture upon the shaft and cannot be detached therefrom without dismantling the machine, as disclosed in United States patent to Fletcher, No. 335,690, granted February 9, 1886, and I malte no claim hereinafter broad enough to include such a structure. With the arrangement disclosed in the accompanying drawings and hereiubefore described I am enabled to continuously supply the material to be separated' during the operation of the machine and to deliver the same into the bowl through a central opening at the top thereof, the attachment of the bowl to the outer or free end of the shaft making it possible also to remove it at any time for the purpose of cleansing or repairing it or substituting a different bowl therefor, and my claims are generic as to these features.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A centrifugal separator provided with a separating-bowl wholly yieldingly supported by means carried by one end of a shaft rotating in a rigid bearing, scribed.

2. A centrifugal separator having a bowl operatively attached to one end of a rotatable shaft by yielding means adapted to yield both in vertical and lateral' directions, said shaft being supported by and rotating in a rigid bearing, substantially as described.

3. In a centrifugal separator a bowl opera-l substantially as de` the other end of which is directly attached to a rotatable shaft, said spring constituting the entire means of support for the bowl, substantially as described.

4. In arcentrifugal separator a bowl operatively connected to one end of a rotatable shaft by yielding means only; said rotatable shaft bein-g provided with end or thrust bearings, substantially as described. 5. In a centrifugal separator the combination of a driving-shaft rotating in a rigid bearing and a bowl with laterally-yielding means interposed between the free or outer end of said shaft and the bowl, the same constituting the sole means of support for the bowl, substantially as described.

6. In a centrifugal separator the combination of a bowl supported at one end of a rotatable shaft by vertical yielding supporting means interposed between the bowl and the bearing of the shaft for the purpose of lessening the strain thereon, substantially as described.

7. In a centrifugal separator the combination of a bowl detachably connected to a support which support is in turn yieldingly connected to one end of a rotatable shaft, rotating in a rigid bearing substantially as described.

8. In a centrifugal separator a spring, a bowl attached to one end of said spring, the other end of which is rigidly secured to a shaft, substantially as described.

IOO

9. In a centrifugalseparatorabowl, aspiral f `spring secured at one end to said bowl and at the other end to a rotatable shaft, substantially as described.

' lO. In a centrifugal separator a bowl secured to the lower end of a spiral spring, the upper end of said spring being secured to a rotatable shaft at a point above the center of gravity` of the bowland its attached parts, substantially as described.

11.l In a centrifugal separator the combination of a rotatable shaft, a spring secured to said shaft and a sleeve or tube attached to the spring; in combination with a bowl adapted to be carried by the sleeve or tube, substantially as described.

12. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable driving-shaft screw-threaded at one end; in combination with a spiral spring secured directly to the screw-threads of the shaft; together with a bowl secured to the other end of the spring, substantially as described.

13. In a centrifugal separator a spring, a bowl secured through friction to one end of said spring, the other end of which is secured to a driving-shaft rotating in a rigid bearing, substantially as described.

14. A centrifugal separator provided with a separating-bowl operatively connected to one end of a rotatable shaft by yielding means only; said rotatable shaft being operatively connected to rigidly-journaled driving mechanism, substantially as described.

IIO

Correctin in Letters Patent No. 739,927.

cured by yielding means to one end of a ro- In testimony w'hereof I' have signed my tatable shaftjournaled inarigidjournal-bearname to this speeihcatlon 1n the presence of 1o ing, substantially as described. n two subscrlbmg witnesses.

16. A centrifugal separator provided with GUSTAF RENNERFELT' a, separating-bowl having the inlet for the liquid located at its top and being,r operatively Witnesses:

attached to one end of a. rotatable shaft by C. J. KINTNER, yielding means, substantially as described. l ABRAHAM OI-ILSSON.

It is hereby certified that the name of the first-mentioned member of the firm of assignees in Letters Patent No. 739,927, granted September 29,1903, upon the application of GustamL` Rennerfelt, of Brooklyn, N ew York, for an improvement in Centrfugel Liquid-separators, was erroneously Written and printed Kochkum, jin, Whereas the said name should have been written z rnd printed Kockum, jr.; endthat the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 13th day-of October, A. D., 1903.

[SEAL] F. 1. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correctin in Letters Patent No. 739,927.

cured by yielding means to one end of a ro- In testimony w'hereof I' have signed my tatable shaftjournaled inarigidjournal-bearname to this speeihcatlon 1n the presence of 1o ing, substantially as described. n two subscrlbmg witnesses.

16. A centrifugal separator provided with GUSTAF RENNERFELT' a, separating-bowl having the inlet for the liquid located at its top and being,r operatively Witnesses:

attached to one end of a. rotatable shaft by C. J. KINTNER, yielding means, substantially as described. l ABRAHAM OI-ILSSON.

It is hereby certified that the name of the first-mentioned member of the firm of assignees in Letters Patent No. 739,927, granted September 29,1903, upon the application of GustamL` Rennerfelt, of Brooklyn, N ew York, for an improvement in Centrfugel Liquid-separators, was erroneously Written and printed Kochkum, jin, Whereas the said name should have been written z rnd printed Kockum, jr.; endthat the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 13th day-of October, A. D., 1903.

[SEAL] F. 1. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 739,927.

It is hereby certified that the nume oi' the frst-nmntioned member of the irin of assignees in Letters Patient N0. 739.5127, granted September 29, 1903J upon tihe zippiication of Gustaaf' Rennerfeiti, of Brooklyn, New York, for zin improvement in Centirifugzil Liquid-Separatore, was erroneously written mid printed Koehkuin,j1-., whereas the said name should have heen written and printed Koelmm, 1jr.; :ind that the said Letters Patent shouhl he rend with this correction therein that the Stime may eonfoinfi to the record 0f the ense in the Patent` Oliiee.

Signed and Sealed this 13th day of Oetioher, A. 1)., 1003.

F. I. ALLEN,

(.omimlesoner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

